Foles for Christmas

PHILADELPHIA — In Eagles nation, it’s been all about 2013 for some time now. Many tend to dwell on the plight of coach Andy Reid but the real scrutiny should be on quarterback Nick Foles.

After all, if you don’t have a successful talent at that position, it doesn’t matter if Vince Lombardi drifts down from the clouds and lands on the sidelines at the Linc next year.

So most of the green-garbed patrons should have their binoculars focused on No. 9 to see if he has what it takes.

On Sunday, Foles once again showed flashes of potential along with rookie inexperience.

It’s too early to make a judgment but it’s safe to say there seems to be enough promise there to not have to consider wasting a possible top-five draft pick on a signal caller come April.

If there had been about another three feet of air under a pass intended for Jeremy Maclin in the dying seconds of the 27-20 loss to Washington, Foles might have been wearing a smile instead of a frown at the post-game news conference.

“There were snaps that he would like to have back, but one thing that he did was he continued to battle through the game,’’ Reid said. “He did it with a sore hand in the second half. He continued to battle . . . I thought he did some good things.’’

LeSean McCoy said Foles competed like a player beyond his years.

“You really can’t tell he’s a rookie,’’ McCoy said. “He’s so poised, his attitude in the huddle and his leadership. It’s his attitude. Everything is always positive, and he’s motivational all the time.’’

There’s no guarantee Reid will be back next year but it’s a sure thing Foles will. Both will be at the Meadowlands Sunday at 1 p.m., when the Eagles face the New York Giants in the season finale.

“I can see in the future he can be an outstanding quarterback,’’ McCoy said. “I can definitely see that in the future.’’

Said tight end Brent Celek: “I thought Nick did good. He kept us in there, and we battled all the way to the end. We had an opportunity there in the last few plays, and in a game like that, that’s all you want.’’

Foles knows there is a lot of work to be done but it’s obvious he wants to get better, and that should make the learning curve that much easier.

“You look at it and it’s positive in the right direction,’’ he said of Sunday’s game. “But I look at the plays I didn’t make and how next time, if that situation arises, what else I have to do differently. It’s just different things. I try to look at the throws I didn’t make and work on those and make those better.’’

Foles was a star quarterback at Texas’ Westlake High School, the same school that produced Saints quarterback Drew Brees, so maybe there’s a cerebral thread there. Foles looks at the game, and his game, with an analytical eye.

“I have to eliminate mistakes,’’ he said. “It’s frustrating because I’m hard on myself and I want to win. But I’m going to keep working hard and I know my teammates (will) too. I’m going to show them and I’m going to work hard, and we’re going to stay together.

“It’s been a tough year. But we still have each other, and I know we’re going to keep going to work.’’

At least that’s something positive to look forward to in the new year.

Wayne Fish: 215-345-3070;

e-mail: wfish@phillyburbs.com;

twitter: @waynefish1

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